Catholics are often accused of not knowing the Bible very well. Our Protestant brothers and sisters admittedly seem to have memorized more scripture than the average Catholic sitting in the pews today. Why is that? It is not due to lack of appreciation of...
There are times, as a young Catholic, when we can feel a little alone. We might even be the only young Catholic we know, which is difficult, not to mention lonely. But don’t despair! Despite how you may feel, there are millions of young adult Catholics...
Gabriel Marcel once described saying, “I love you,” as equivalent to saying, “You will never die.” The act of loving thus reveals itself to be alive both in the present and in the future; it is both an immediate act and a promise. The promises in our lives radically...
Is it difficult for you to leave a project unfinished if you have to change activities? Are you unable to delegate work because you think that nobody can do it better than you? Do you have to wake up an hour early every morning to try on a thousand shirts before...
As you begin this new chapter of your life, it is important to firmly root yourself in the faith. College is about much more than learning from professors and writing term papers. College is about more than an education. It's about formation. College will be your...
I can’t forgive. Not always and never easily. It is hard to forgive and sometimes I don’t want to forgive. What do you do when there is something in your life that is too huge for forgiveness? A friend of mine once visited Auschwitz. He described how he saw that...
A photographer, evidently. But, before we get to the more interesting answer (for those who don't know, no cheating or looking below!), ask yourself: What is he feeling? What emotions come to mind? What do you think is going on in his heart? Who do you think this man...
Most of the time secular music will spread the lies of the culture, depicting women as objects and glorifying wealth and materialism. But every once in a while a pop song hits a chord of truth that moves us to see ourselves as we are. Even more than Christian...
You probably have a rosary lying around your house somewhere. Maybe you received it as a Confirmation gift or picked one up when the sweet old lady was passing them out at church, but you don’t really know what to do with it. If you remember praying...
Overcoming sin and temptation involves learning to identify, process, and let go of disordered patterns of thinking, feeling, and desiring. These patterns have deep roots, and as we learn to explore our interior life under the gentle guidance of the Holy Spirit, we...
People tend to complain and grumble about teenagers who have no manners, no values, spend all their time on cell phones, and just don’t “do things the way they used to.” Teens often get a bad reputation in today’s world, but a group of young men and women from...
Whatever type of ministry you do within the Church, chances are there will be a time when it becomes all-consuming and your own personal prayer life begins to suffer. Maybe you’re so busy and have already been praying all day with a group, talking about God, giving of...
There are hundreds of titles for Mary and each one brings her honor in a different way. Why so many different names for one person? Each title reveals to us a different facet of Mary's character, allowing us to connect with her in a more personal way. How do you...
There are more options than ever before for educating your child. Public schools, private schools, charter schools, online schools, and homeschooling are some of the options in addition to Catholic schools that parents are able to look into. It can be...
This video by Dr. Amy Cutty lays out some very interesting insights into the importance of body language. It’s a “back to the basics” topic but when it’s looked at in light of the faith, a few valuable reflections emerge. 3 Things To Remember About Your Body Language...
“Nothing is more practical than finding God, than falling in Love in a quiet absolute, final way. What you are in love with, what seizes your imagination, will affect everything. It will decide what will get you out of bed in the morning, what you do with your...
When we are baptized, a special pair of adults are chosen in addition to our parents to be our spiritual guides. Personally, my godparents go above and beyond the call in their commitment to this vital role in a child's life. I’ve watched how they love...
Nowadays it is common to hear people say, “There’s an app for that.” about anything and everything. But long before we had apps, we had Saints. There truly is a patron saint for just about everything from oversleeping (Saint Vitus) to clowns (St. Julian...
“Just as the reading of spiritual books has led to the conversion of many sinners, so the reading of bad books is daily leading to the ruin of many young people.” St. Alphonsus Liguori We must immerse ourselves in good Catholic books in order to have spiritual...
People have become more casual when dressing for mass. Jeans and t-shirts replace what had been the Sunday best - dresses, formal outfits, and suits complete with ties and nice shoes. Still, we learn, he makes it a point to put on a suit jacket, so he can show respect...
Living the truth through charity is walking a fine line through the messy confusion of life. The truth is not complete if not presented with charity; the facts themselves might be truth, but the attitude behind the facts must also be presented with kindness and...
This inspiring story of Jeanette and Alexander Toczko demonstrates the type of love that only a marriage in Christ can produce. The dedication and love this man and woman had for one another is reflected in the actions of their children. Among the many lessons that...
“What this world needs is a little wonder!” There are so many themes that can be unpacked from the short film, The Butterfly Circus, that it is hard to know where to begin, but maybe beginning with wonder is a start. Set in the era of the Great Depression, this short...
Inside Out is the newest release from Pixar Animation Studios and Disney. We know the Pixar brand’s penchant for entertaining both children and adults, alike (Up, Monsters Inc, and Cars just to name a few), and they have certainly lived up to their reputation this...
I’ll admit it - it can be annoying to watch a movie with me. As soon as the movie begins, I try to figure out who the bad guy is or what the twist will be. If I do say so myself, I happen to get it right a lot of the time. It isn’t the most awful habit to have, but...